(Twitter / @JustinWhang)

When it comes to hurricanes, there's not much that actually makes most Floridians sweat. True FloGrown Floridians are used to the storms and often don't even bother putting up shutters for anything less than a Category 3, not to mention seldom evacuate. However, Hurricane Ian just triggered something that put true fear into many Floridians upon seeing the following words: Waffle House Is Closed.

For those unaware, the Waffle House Index is an unofficial FEMA indicator used to determine how bad a natural disaster is, and is also used by Floridians to determine if it's worth evacuating or not. The news of the Waffle House closures today created an immediate, sharp reaction by the southwest Florida community.

According to the Waffle House Index, closure like this is only warranted when it's highly likely that the storm will make the Waffle House unable to operate, which is really saying something when they're built to withstand tornadoes and function without proper electricity or gas usage.

Early reports from cities affected by the storm are making this decision by Waffle House seem like a good one, with several videos posted before actual landfall showing streets completely flooded, cars underwater and Weather Channel officials (aka Jim 'Harbinger of Doom' Cantore) getting bullied by the winds.


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Comments 2 total

Gilan

To explain there's something called the "Waffle House Index" which was coined by someone in FEMA and is unofficially used to describe how bad a situation is.

If multiple stores are closed, that's level RED.

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ObadiahtheSlim

I wonder how much of the current national employment and logistics issues played into their decision to just close instead of staying open but with limited menu.

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